On December 8, law enforcement officers from the Bedford Police Department and the Virginia State Police assisted the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, Vice/Drug Unit, in the service of arrest warrants on seven persons (more arrests are pending) charged with the distribution of illegal drugs and prescription drugs (pills, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin).
The arrests took place throughout the county and in the town of Bedford.
Alexander Forte, 20, of Bedford, was charged with distribution of marijuana.

A Moneta woman, facing some 80 charges, had about one-quarter of those charges certified to a Bedford grand jury on Monday.
Rhonda Renay Overstreet, 32, had charges of grand larceny, credit card fraud and bad check charges certified while many charges, related to those, weren’t prosecuted since she waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

Charlie Ray Haskins Jr., 35, of Altavista, entered no contest pleas, in Bedford County Circuit Court, Tuesday, to two counts of aggravated sexual battery against a minor.
He had been facing eight felonies related to the charges, but under a plea deal only two were prosecuted.
According to Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Ayers, Haskins began molesting the victim when she was 11 and it continued until she turned 14.

A former sergeant in the US Army pleaded no contest Tuesday to six felony charges related to a relationship he had with a 14-year-old Bedford County girl.
Angelo E. Paderes , 27, entered the pleas on four counts of computer solicitation, one count of carnal knowledge and one count of abduction. A sentencing hearing has been set for March 3 at 1:30 p.m. on the charges. The no contest pleas mean he agrees the commonwealth has enough evidence to convict him, while not admitting to the crimes.

Bedford County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating several reports of thefts from vehicles in the Lake Vista area of Bedford County.
The larcenies occurred late Thursday night or early morning hours of Friday. All the thefts were from unlocked vehicles. Items missing are wallets, personal items, a .270 rifle and credit cards.

A former employee of Sonic in Bedford, arrested for breaking into the fast-food restaurant Feb. 1, has been sentenced on the charges related to the break-in as well as on an embezzlement charge from the restaurant.

On November 10, investigators from Bedford County Sheriff’s Office, along with investigators from Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, served warrants on Leslie Gerber of Nathalie, related to charges involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.

Additionally, a search warrant for additional evidence related to the arrest warrants, was also executed.

A scheme to rob pills from her employer has led to a 19-year-old Bedford woman having to serve 19 months in prison.
Alicyn Marie Updike pleaded guilty in May to the August 2015 robbery at English Meadows Elks Home Campus, where she was employed. Her boyfriend, Cody Wayne Nichols, 21, was also involved and previously received a two-year prison sentence for his part in the robbery.